Public invited to open house at first U-developed deep winter greenhouse

February 07, 2017

Throughout Minnesota, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships are working with producers and community groups to test a prototype design of these passive solar greenhouses, which allow farmers to grow produce through the winter.

The Northeast Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP) and Organic Consumers Association will host a public open house at the first deep winter greenhouse to finish construction.

The open house will be from 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 18 at the Organic Consumers Association, 6771 South Silver Hill Drive in Finland. The event includes deep winter greenhouse presentations at 1 p.m., a 1:30 p.m. ribbon cutting and tour and self-guided tours and a question-and-answer period starting at 2 p.m. The event is free. RSVPs are requested to Greg Schweser, director of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at RSDP, a part of the University of Minnesota Extension, at schwe233@umn.edu.

Throughout Minnesota, the RSDPs are working with producers and community groups to test a prototype design of these passive solar greenhouses, which allow farmers to grow produce through the winter. This structure contains a south-facing wall designed to capture the maximum amount of solar energy. Stored heat dissipates into the air above creating an environment particularly well-suited to grow crops that thrive in low-light and low-heat conditions.

“Deep winter greenhouses represent a future of local foods that will come from innovations to expand markets and the production season,” Schweser said.

Support for this project has been provided by the University of Minnesota Extension, MnDRIVE Global Food Ventures, University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and a consortium of agriculture lending banks.

U of M Extension’s Jake Overgaard grew up on a farm. He knows farming, and he understands that it’s changing. He and his Extension educator colleagues are using a new generation of educational tools to meet farmers where they’re at. That might include a podcast on improving disease management (to listen to while they’re driving a combine), or a YouTube video on business planning. Because when it comes to farming, an extra set of hands is always helpful.

Why are there food deserts in the heart of some of the most productive farm country in the world? That’s a good question. Through the one-of-a-kind rural Minnesota Backhaul Project, the U of M’s Kathy Draeger is connecting rural grocers and farmers to bring new sources of fresh food to Greater Minnesota.